Just a year before his suicide attempt in 1853, Robert Schumann and his wife Clara first met Johannes Brahms who was just 20 years old at the time. The friendship that developed between these three astounding musicians continues to intrigue scholars and audiences. The Schumanns supported Brahms’ blossoming career. Writing in the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik, Robert hailed Brahms as the heir to Beethoven’s legacy and Clara frequently premiered Brahms’ works in concert alongside those of her husband. As Robert’s health deteriorated, the young Brahms became a great support to both Schumanns – Clara believed he had been ‘sent straight from God’. While much can be read into their correspondence and diaries, nobody will ever know for sure how close Clara and Brahms became. They remained great friends until their respective deaths in 1896 and 1897. Performed by some of the UK’s leading musicians, this special programme celebrates the love and friendship between Brahms and the Schumanns through extraordinary works for voice, horn, violin and piano.